Rail-joint.



H. E. GIDDINGS.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23, 1912.

Patented Dec. 10,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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H. E. GIDDINGS.

RAIL JOINT.

' AYPLIOATION FILED JAILZB, 1912.

1,046,769. Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

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WETEE TAEES PATENT @FFEQE.

HOMER E. GIIDDINGS, OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS.

RAIL-JOINT.

Application filed January 23, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it'known that I, HOMER E. GiDDINcs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fort Worth, in the county of Tarrant and State of Texas,have invented new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The invention relates to rail joints, and has for its primary object toprovide a joint of this character in which the rail ends will besecurely held, so as to prevent the splitting, spreading or lateraldisplacement thereof, and that will afford a smooth joint between thesame, so as. to obviate the pounding of the car wheels when passing overone rail end onto the other, and also that will relieve the strain uponthe bolts connecting the rail ends to the joint.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a rail joint inwhich a solid bed plate is employed, and on which rest the rail ends,the bed plate being formed with inner and outer side plates joined by acentral bond which is designed to be disposed between the rail ends, soas to give continuity to the tread surface of the rail at the joint toprevent the pounding of the car wheels when traveling thereover, andalso that will obviate the breaking or mutilation of the bolt memberswhich are passed through the side plates and webs of the rail ends, thusassuring a firm and solid connection between the rail ends.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a rail joint ofthis character which is simple in construction,strong, durable,thoroughly reliable and efficient in purpose, and inexpensive inmanufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will behereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a rail jointconstructed in accordance with the invention, showing the meeting endsof rails mounted therein. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is asectional view on the line 83 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view onthe line 44 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 isa fragmentary perspective view of the joint, with one of the rail endsremoved. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form ofrail joint. Fig. Tis a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1%,1912.

Serial No. 672,853.

side elevation thereof. Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 ofFig. 7. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the removable fishplate, the same being detached from the rail joint.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 5 and 6 designate the meetingends, respectively, of railway rails, each being of the ordinarywell-known construction, including a base flange 7, vertical web 8, anda ball or tread 9, and these rail ends are adapted to fit within a railjoint, presently described.

The rail joint comprises a bed plate 10 which may be of any desirablelength, and is preferably constructed from metal, on which rest the ends5 and 6 of the rails. the under face of the plate 10 being formed with amedially disposed depending reinforcing truss 11, the latter extendinglongitudinally for a portion of the length of the said plate, and isadapted to materially strengthen the same. Intermediate the ends of theplate 10 and rising from the inner side edge thereof is an inner sideplate 12. the same facing an outer side plate 13 which is of greaterlength than the said inner side plate, although, if desired, both theinner and outer side plates may be of equal length. The inner and outerside plates, on their outer faces, are provided with verticalreinforcing ribs 14, and are joined medially of their length by means ofa cross bond 15, against which abut the rail ends 5 and 6, when engagedbetween the said inner and outer side plates, and rest upon the bedplate from which the same rise.

Formed on the upper edge of the outer side plate 13 is a verge'or crest16, the same being of any desired length relative to the said outer sideplate, and is formed with a groove 17 on its inner side correspondinglyshaped to the outer edge of the balls or treads 9 of the rail ends 5 and6, so as to accommodate the same, thereby enabling the car wheel, inpassing ofi of one rail end onto the other, to travel upon the saidverge or crest 16, so as to obviate the possibility of the pounding ofthe car wheel at the joint between the rail ends, and by providing thebond 15 the car wheel, at the joint between the rail ends, will beprevented from sinking, thereby causing it to roll smoothly over thejoint, or without possibility of a thud or bumping action, and in thismanner the car wheel will be prevented from dropping at the point of thejoint between the rail ends.

Straddling the bed plate 10, at opposite ends thereof, are clamp members18, one end being upwardly directed to lie against one side of the webof each rail, while the other end is provided with a hook 19 whichengages one edge of the bed plate 10 of the rail joint, and passedthrough these clamps 18 are bolt members 20, which also pass through theweb 8 and plate 13 and likewise passed through the inner and outer sideplates are similar bolt members 21, the bolt members 20 and 21 beingalso passed through the webs of the rail ends, thereby fastening thesaid rail ends in the rail joint. The cross bond 15 is designed tosupport the crest and bind the outer plate 13 and the inner plate 12firmly together, so that the strength of the joint does not depend uponthe bolts 20 and 21. v

In Figs. (5, 7, 8 and 9, there is shown a modification of rail joint,which comprises a base plate 22 which may be of any desired length, andupon which rest the ends 23 and 24 of the rails. Formed integral withthe base plate 22 and rising therefrom is an outer side plate 25 whichis of the same length as the said base plate, and is formed at its upperedge, medially thereof, with a verge or crest 26, the latter containinga groove 27 correspondingly shaped to the outer edges of the balls ortreads of the rail ends 23 and 24 for receiving the same, therebyenabling a car wheel to travel thereon, when leaving one rail end andpassing onto the other, so as to obviate the pounding of the car wheelat the joint between the rail ends. Projecting laterally centrally fromthe outer side plate 25 and the crest 26 is a cross bond 28, againstwhich abut the rail ends 23 and 24 when mounted upon the bed plate 22,the cross bond being designed to form a medial support for the car wheelwhen rolling thereover off of one rail end onto the other. Thus in thismanner a smooth joint is had between the rail ends, thereby obviatingthe possibility of bumping action at the joint between the said ends.

Formed on the inner longitudinal edge of the base plate 22 is anupwardly and in wardly directed locking flange 29, in which is engagedone edge of a removable fish plate 30, the same being formed with acentral enlargement 31 on its outer face engaged by means of a noseextension 32 formed on the cross bond 28, the plates 25 and 30 beingdesigned to rest against opposite side faces of the web of the rail, andare provided with alining openings 33 for receiving bolt members 34which are also passed through elongated openings 35 formed inthe webs ofthe rail ends in alinement with the openings 33 in the said plates. Theelongated openings 35 in the webs of the rail ends will permit the freeexpansion and contraction of the rails. It will be seen that the railends cannot sag and will be held secure against spreading or lateral displacement with respect to each other, when mounted in the rail joint.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with rail ends, of a rail joint comprising a bedplate on which the rail ends rest, outer and inner side plates risingfrom the said bed plate, a bond uniting the said side plates mediallythereof and against which the rail ends abut, a crest formed on theouter side plate and engageable with the outer edges of the balls of therails, and clamps straddling the said bed plate and engageable with therail ends.

2. The combination with rail ends, of a rail joint comprising a bedplate on which the rail ends rest, outer and inner side plates risingfrom the said bed plate, a bond uniting the'said side plates mediallythereof and against which the rail ends abut, a crest formed on theouter side plate and engageable with the outer edges of the balls of therails, clamps straddling the said bed plate and engageable with the railends, and a truss depending medially from the said bed plate anddisposed longitudinally thereof.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HOMER E. GIDDINGS.

Witnesses:

J. O. SHELTON, OSCAR PARKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patent Washington, I). C.

